Founding of the University of Pennsylvania
- When
- 1749
- Where
- Philadelphia
- Episodes
- 1
In 1740, Philadelphians organized to build a preaching hall for George Whitefield. Benjamin Franklin later advocated for a public academy, leading to the College of Philadelphia's charter in 1755.
Episodes
Background and detail
Background. The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia. It is one of nine colonial colleges in the United States. Benjamin Franklin advocated for an educational institution training leaders in academia, commerce, and public service.
Founding. In 1740, a group of Philadelphians organized to build a preaching hall for the traveling Anglican evangelist George Whitefield. In 1749, Benjamin Franklin circulated a pamphlet outlining his vision for a Public Academy of Philadelphia. On June 16, 1755, the College of Philadelphia was chartered.
People involved
- George Whitefield · Anglican evangelist
Sources
- University of Pennsylvania Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-28
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